Tor UK snaps up indie author AJ Lancaster’s fairy tale-inspired cosy fantasies
Tor UK has acquired How to Find a Nameless Fae, plus six more “wonderfully cosy” fantasy titles by AJ Lancaster, an indie-published author based in New Zealand.
Publisher Bella Pagan acquired world rights for How to Find a Nameless Fae and one novella, and UK and Commonwealth with translation rights, excluding Canada, for five novels set in the world of Stariel from Caitlin Blasdell at Liza Dawson Associates.
Inspired by the story of Rumpelstiltskin, How to Find a Nameless Fae sees a determined princess seek out her fae nemesis, resulting in dramas, misunderstandings and magical curses in a “life-affirming” enemies-to-lovers narrative.
The Lord of Stariel and sequels sees a magical estate require an heir – but is a spurned and scandalous daughter really the right choice? Meanwhile, How to Marry a Winged King is a Cinderella retelling in novella form.
AJ Lancaster was named Best New Talent at the Sir Julius Vogel Awards, New Zealand’s pre-eminent awards for fantasy, science fiction and horror.
She said: “I’m thrilled to be working with Tor UK to bring my stories to a wider audience. I can’t wait to see new readers fall in love with sentient houses and melodramatic fae men.”
Pagan commented: “AJ’s books are brimming with magic. These fairy-tale inspired stories are filled with drama, wit, shenanigans and heart-warming romance. They’re clever, enchanting and utterly delightful and I can’t wait to bring them to readers seeking their next fantastical adventure."
Tor UK will publish How to Find a Nameless Fae in hardback in August 2026 with The Lord of Stariel hardback following in autumn 2026.
